Bye bye September Lucchese... see you next year!

And even September is going towards the end, you could not be in a better place to welcome the Autumn season, just walking on the walls you will have a great view over the mountains and the turning colours of the leaves, the chilly pure air in the morning and that lukewarm sun during the day...

After your daily trips and explorations, enjoy a glass of wine and some food at the Enoteca Calasto in piazza San Giovanni and listen to some great young Opera Singers on Friday starting at 8.30 pm. 

Markets are on even this weekend:

• the local weekly mixed market in Via dei Bacchettoni on Saturday morning 
• the lovely Arts&Crafts Market in Piazza San Giusto on Sat&Sun will give you the opportunity to meet many artisans and some cute objects great for your presents of this holiday in Lucca
• the last traditional fair market on Sunday all day in Borgo Giannotti district to end the September Lucchese celebrations

Not interested in shopping? 

On Saturday afternoon from 3 till 8pm, twelve artists will open the doors of their studios, ateliers so you can browse the secrets of painting, photography and sculpture. 

Here is the map:

An interesting event is dedicated to Fashion, Cars and Giacomo Puccini: 

a fashion show, a catwalk for the new collection of the local designer Piero Ricci, the models will walk in front of the Maestro's statue (Piazza Cittadella) on Saturday from 5.30 pm

The Giglio Theatre has offered some precious japanese kimono worn for Madame Butterfly, realized by Catherine Voeffray for the anniversary of the opera.  

In case you are interested, the event is free but you need to book in advance your seat at the Puccini Museum ticket office on Friday (9.30-6.30).

On Sunday instead still in the same square, the Lancia Lamboda car will be in exhibition for all day. That is the last car bought by Giacomo Puccini in 1924, it could reach the speed of 125 km/h.

For your Saturday night a couple of ideas: 

- the free jazz concert "Waiting for Lucca Jazz 2014" at Palazzo Ducale at 6pm (Piazza Napoleone), it is even a chance to see the interior, the rooms which usually are closed ;) 

- the National Museums, Palazzo Mansi and Villa Guinigi are doing a late night opening. Free entrance from 7.30 till 11.30 pm


On Sunday afternoon, it will be the Lucchese Crossbow and Archery team to say goodbye to this edition of the September Lucchese on Sunday competing for the First San Michele Trophy. 

The musicians, medieval costumes and flag throwers will depart from Via dei Bacchettoni at 3.pm to parade through the central main street to arrive in Piazza Guidiccioni where the archery competition will start at 3.30pm. 

Pontormo&Rosso Fiorentino an extraordinary exhibition in Florence

I think that Palazzo Strozzi is one of the best reality in Florence and generally speaking in Tuscany for exhibitions, art and events. I am always keeping an eye on what's going on and what will be coming next.

Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino "Diverging Path of Mannerism", an incredibly beautiful exhibition opened just a couple of weeks ago and it will last till July, 20th.

This is a list of reasons and suggestions, just my personal advice. Of course, if you will go, let me know your thoughts!

I appreciated very much how the exhibition has been set up, you can really understand the meaning of the title Diverging Paths. Two twins artists till a certain point (they both were trainees of Andrea del Sarto and lived in the same period in Florence), then each one has followed his own way. So at the end I got to think which one did I like the most?

Still nowadays we are astonished by the genius of Michelangelo, Raffaello and Leonardo, but have you ever tried to put yourself in the shoes of an artist that tried to succeed immediately after those three masters? I mean, how can you handle the comparison? Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino took that challenge and the exhibition will show you how they reacted and what they realized. 

A thing I will never forget: the bright, glazed colours of the Visitation by Pontormo, those four massive women occupying almost all the scene in front of you, you perceive that they are mysterious and so gentle at the same time. (look at Saint Elizabeth). And pay attention everytime, how these painters use the colours: sharp, shimmering and vivid. 

It has just been restored, so this image has nothing to do with the original!

I love when you can see also the sketches and drawings! Here, there are two rooms completely dedicated to them. Have a look at the architecture of Rosso Fiorentino, it is just perfect and it makes you understand how talented and careful he was. Instead it seems that Pontormo is just painting himself all the times? 

Paintings can be a document of a period of time. How was to live in Florence in the early 1500? Would you be with or against the Medici family? The artists had to choose which side to stay and the portraits are a great evidence. Anyway, you will be surprised that some of this men are so ordinary, they could be your neighbour! 

Do not miss any expression of the faces: saints, angels that look like animals, monsters or demons but even the sweetest thing in the world! 

Why not a young and curly blond Saint Joseph? 

Seize that moment! Maddalena catching Jesus' feet preventing them to touch the floor, her red mantel blowing up and the awkward position of John. Doesn't it seem just a quick snapshot, does it?  

If you can, book a guided visit, it is so worthy! This kind of exhibitions are huge and you usually end up at in the last rooms quite overwhelmed by all the paintings, papers, books, panels, people around etc..and you do not remember how you started! Instead, the guide will help you a lot to go through the rooms selecting the most important works, you will notice details, you will be given the right tools to appreciate what you are seeing. Another positive point: you have a question, you can ask and hopefully ;) receive an answer! Then after the tour, you can stay longer at the exhibition, go back to see that painting, meditate on it at your own pace. It's the ideal! I enjoyed the exhibition so much with Isabella, that I hope I can go back as soon as possible. 

For further information on Florence, Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino exhibition please get in contact with Paola.